FCC bans cable TV industry’s favorite trick for hiding full cost of service
by Jon Brodkin from Ars Technica - All content on (#6KGBN)
Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | stefanamer)
Cable and satellite TV companies must start advertising "all-in" prices instead of using hidden fees to conceal the full cost of video service, the Federal Communications Commission said in new rules adopted last week.
The FCC voted to adopt the rules on March 14, and the final text of the order was released yesterday. The rules are aimed in particular at the Broadcast TV and Regional Sports Network fees charged by Comcast and other companies.
For years, TV providers have advertised artificially low prices that don't include such fees. The actual bills received by subscribers thus have prices much higher than the advertised rates.